Korean J Nosocomial Infect Control.  2010 Dec;15(2):96-102.

Management of Healthcare Workers and Patients on Exposure to Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1 2009) Virus in a Hospital

• Kweon OM
• Lee DS
• Park ES
• Kim CO
• Han SH
• Kim KH
• Lee JH
• Ha EJ
• Lee K

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study is aimed at describing the outcomes of the management of the patients, caregivers, and healthcare workers (HCWs) who are exposed to the pandemic influenza (H1N1 2009) virus and at evaluating the adequacy in exposure management and infection control.
METHODS
From July 2009 to January 2010, for 7 a month period, we managed patients and healthcare workers without any respiratory protective devices, who came within 1 m distance of H1N1-positive individuals for more than 1 h and performed a 1-week follow-up.
RESULTS
The total of 157 cases with exposure to pandemic influenza (H1N1 2009) virus and exposed individuals of 907 were reported. Of the exposed individuals who were under management, 15 were confirmed to be infected with the infection rate being 1.7%. The confirmed individuals did not have a secondary infection after the exposure. Rates of infection of the exposed patients and healthcare workers were 1.8% and 1.6%, respectively, and these figures were not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
The exposure management results at the hospital revealed that the infection had spread by contact with individuals who were positive for the infection. The high incidence of early exposure to the virus warrants the need to ensure the use of protective equipment and the adoption of assertive teaching methods that have long lasting effects.

Keyword

Pandemic influenza A (H1N1 2009); Exposure; Management

MeSH Terms

Adoption
Caregivers
Coinfection
Delivery of Health Care
Dietary Sucrose
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Incidence
Influenza, Human
Pandemics
Porphyrins
Respiratory Protective Devices
Teaching
Viruses
Dietary Sucrose
Porphyrins